10 European startups that turn urine into opportunity

From healthcare breakthroughs to sustainable agriculture

Urine is a peculiar fluid that contains several useful substances, including urea, electrolytes, and different metabolic byproducts.

Urine has unrealized potential in a variety of sectors in addition to its involvement in its bodily functions. It can be used, for instance, as an organic fertilizer in agriculture to provide crops with necessary nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen. This encourages sustainable farming methods and lessens dependency on hazardous synthetic fertilizers. Urine is being used in medicine for non-invasive health monitoring, early disease detection, and the treatment of chronic diseases. In addition, urine is being treated more like a resource than a waste, and this is leading to the development of creative solutions that can improve healthcare, manage environmental issues, and promote general well-being.

According to this article, here are ten exciting European entrepreneurs who are using urine’s unique properties to create useful and innovative solutions. These companies are revolutionizing the way we think about and use urine, with products ranging from cutting-edge neuromodulation therapies and sophisticated incontinence management systems to innovative diagnostic tools and environmentally friendly fertilizers. Each company on this list is pushing the limits of sustainability and technology in addition to tackling particular health and environmental problems.

Amber Therapeutics: a London-based company, creates cutting-edge neuromodulation therapies to treat mixed urinary incontinence in women. Their ground-breaking PicostimTM System uses a fully implanted device to target the pudendal nerve. It can sense and stimulate responses, adapting to the needs of the user. According to the AURA-2 study, the technology significantly improves quality of life and is both safe and effective. Amber was founded in 2021 and focuses on creative solutions for unmet clinical requirements while employing experience in medical devices. €94.9 million has been raised by the company to pursue its cutting-edge treatments.

AssistMe: with a mobile app that tracks residents’ needs in real-time and a sophisticated sensor system built into adult diapers, Berlin-based AssistMe is revolutionizing elder care. It enables caregivers to respond quickly and effectively by automating processes like documentation, pressure ulcer prevention, and incontinence control. The system lowers expenses and administrative workloads while enhancing resident comfort and safety. The ultimate objective of AssistMe is to improve care procedures through personalization and efficiency for the benefit of both caregivers and residents. Having been founded in 2016, they secured approximately €5 million in fundraising in 2019 through an exceptional round.

EG 427: a Paris-based company, is creating pinpoint gene therapy, a novel technique that targets bladder problems directly. This approach makes use of a non-replicative Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 (HSV-1) vector platform to enable accurate and durable expression of therapeutic genes. In June 2024, the U.S. FDA approved EG110A, its main product, for preclinical development for neurogenic bladder dysfunction (NDO). Since their founding in 2019, they have raised €17 million, intending to provide long-term, efficient treatments for chronic illnesses while enhancing the options available for care.

inContAlert: based in Bayern, Germany, it has created a wearable device that uses artificial intelligence and a proprietary sensor to assess bladder filling levels. When a patient’s bladder hits critical levels, an app displaying sensor data alerts them. By reducing the need for catheters and preventing unplanned emptying, this technology enhances patient quality of life and care efficiency. All things considered, it helps people with neurogenic bladder dysfunction take back control of their bladder. They were established in 2019 and have raised €2.6M.

Jude: it is a London-based healthcare company that develops all-natural, clinically validated supplements and products to assist people regain control over their bladder function. The company’s goal is to improve bladder care. Their main offering, a bladder control supplement, fortifies the pelvic floor and lessens urgency, leaks, and nocturnal urination by combining soy germ isoflavones with pumpkin seed extract. Jude also sells leak-proof underwear and pads, which are made of biodegradable, environmentally friendly materials and are created with sustainability in mind. Since their founding in 2020, they have raised €6.7 million toward their goal of shattering taboos surrounding bladder health and establishing a community of support for people who are impacted.

Testmate Health: a Swiss company, provides an easy-to-use urine test that can be done at home and yield results for the four most prevalent sexually transmitted infections (STDs) in a matter of minutes. With the help of Swiss microengineering and cutting-edge DNA isothermal technology, the disposable kits provide rapid and discreet testing at any time or location. The test looks for mycoplasma genitalium, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis. Users can share the test results with their doctor through the Testmate app so that they can start treatment right away. With Testmate, access to sexual health testing is made easier, enabling people to take charge of their health and minimizing the need for in-person doctor visits. They were established in 2020 and have raised €7.9 million.

The Blue Box: a Barcelona-based company, is creating a breast cancer screening test that uses biomarkers in urine to identify breast cancer without pain, radiation, or accessibility issues. The technology analyzes urine samples and detects breast cancer with a sensitivity of 88.42%, exceeding standard mammography, thanks to a proprietary electronic nose (eNose) and AI algorithms. By 2025, the test is expected to be available in gynecological clinics, providing a simple, affordable diagnostic option via a subscription procedure. They were established in 2021 and have raised €1.9 million.

TOOPI Organics: a French company, that gathers and recycles human urine for use in farming. Rather than using conventional fertilizers, they produce biostimulants derived from urine. Urine is collected from public restrooms, events, and metropolitan areas. It is subsequently treated through fermentation and filtration to produce a culture medium for microorganisms of interest to agronomists. Targeting phosphorus, nitrogen, and water stress, Toopi’s first product, Lactopi Start, was introduced in France and Belgium and provides farmers with an organic substitute for mineral and inorganic fertilizers. TOOPI Organics was established in 2019 and has raised €23.2 million.

Usense: a French company, created Jimini, a portable device that detects biomarkers in urine in real time for disease identification and early diagnosis with only one click. Jimini works as a miniature laboratory, providing medical practitioners with a practical and hygienic instrument for pre-analysis straight from the urine sample by combining patented photonic and electroanalysis technologies. Through an integrated web application, the results can be safely accessed and transferred online, improving medical procedures. Their technology provides a rapid and non-invasive means of monitoring health by enabling early diagnosis in medical consultations and emergencies. Over €8.8 million has been raised since its founding in 2019.

Vunanexus: based in Zurich, it uses a patented treatment technique created at the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag) to turn urine into a profitable and environmentally friendly fertilizer known as Aurin. Their technique addresses the disadvantages of conventional wastewater treatment and synthetic fertilizer manufacturing by stabilizing urine by eliminating contaminants and turning it into a ready-to-use fertilizer. This invention provides a long-term way to recycle nutrients, lessen environmental effects, and increase resource efficiency. Over €1.5 million has been raised since its founding in 2021.